@eldarboy - Am smiling, wondering if I know the steps to Marin Marais? 💃🏻 🎶
And on that subject, how’s this for a fabulous new release:
https://app.idagio.com/albums/telemann-grenzenlos
Does anyone happen to have a copy of Groves, I think from the 1950’s, which dismissed all of Telemann’s oeuvre as dull and unlistenable… or words to that effect?
I’m delighted that so many modern musicians completely demolish that idea. Time to dance!
@jen The first Marais had a dance rhythm to it, a la Bach.
When I attend Tafelmusik concerts, the pious gentry sit in stone-like reverence as Bach’s music fills the knaves of the converted church, while I essentially dance in my seat, causing those seats next to me to bounce along to my enthusiasms, much to the consternation of their occupants 🤣
I essentially dance in my seat, causing those seats next to me to bounce along to my enthusiasms, much to the consternation of their occupants 🤣
🤣
I have two favourite types of music: the music that I can’t possibly sit still to; and the music that stops me in my tracks, I stop breathing, my heart stops beating. Thankfully my concert neighbours usually seem to respond similarly… but not always 😂
And Bach is definitely to dance to! Unless I’ve stopped breathing.
There are almost too many treats among this Friday’s new releases!
First, the rest of the eagerly-awaited Marin Marais album we were promised:
https://app.idagio.com/albums/marin-marais-folies-despagne-la-reveuse-and-other-works
Then, the latest offering in the Haydn 2032 series (with the sort of splendidly bizarre cover we have come to expect 😊):
https://app.idagio.com/albums/haydn-2032-vol-13-horn-signal
And, a new recording of two of my favourite violin concertos:
https://app.idagio.com/albums/prokofiev-violin-concertos-B0B0C134-D058-470A-8111-567EA08DED36
Not to mention the complete string quartets of a composer previously unknown to me. Anyone familiar with Johan Kvandal?
I sense very little work will get done this weekend 😁
Presto’s “Classical Recording of the week” is Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto and Chamber Works, with Isabelle Faust, François-Xavier Roth and Les Siècles on Harmonia Mundi, released today.
I haven’t yet worked out how to share a link to the album on Presto, but what an exquisite performance and recording it is!
[Here’s the album on Idagio:
https://app.idagio.com/albums/stravinsky-violin-concerto-and-chamber-works
]
New Friday, new music, and a new composer (to me) to explore.
Lera Auerbach, starting with today’s release:
Tender, dramatic, lyrical, in turns, with some fabulously jazzy dance rhythms. There’s shades of Arvo Pärt, of Glass, of Stravinsky, a hint of the Quartet for the End of Time, and Britten’s Young Apollo makes an entrance. Somehow Auerbach weaves all of this into a single, astonishing, persuasive voice.
Wow!
Anyone familiar with Auerbach’s music (or writings, or art?)? Any recommendations?
[And I’m interested to see if that album link worked, from Presto’s ‘purchase’ website]
On my Android phone the link takes me to the page for that album on the Presto website. The only way I know of to get it in the Presto streaming app is to search for it there (or Explore for it). Am I missing a more direct route?
Ah, you’re right, Hugh!
There’s a one-click route from app to website, but it seems that the reverse is not true - fine if you want to buy the album but not so helpful otherwise 🤷🏻♀️
I haven’t yet found a way to link an album for streaming. Another feature request perhaps?
@jen They've not responded to the list of feature requests that I submitted about 3 weeks ago. Perhaps I overdid it!
Thanks for the Auerbach recommendation. What an extraordinary variety of violin music.
(I've not got on so well with the Biber requiem that you recommended. I've tried the Pluto-Ensemble and the Vox Luminis/Freiburger Barock recordings. Both sounded very good but the only part that has worked for me is the the Dies Irae... the way it builds up to the conclusion. I've read elsewhere a recommendation for the Salzburg Mass. Perhaps that might help me get more in tune with his choral music.)
They've not responded to the list of feature requests that I submitted about 3 weeks ago. Perhaps I overdid it!
Frustrating! In truth, I was surprised to get prompt responses but maybe that’s because my requested features were already in the pipeline? Am imagining that Presto must have all hands on deck just to get this project off the ground.
Auerbach: Those 24 Preludes are irresistible! I’m intrigued to explore her other works, perhaps starting with this as inspiration:
I've not got on so well with the Biber requiem that you recommended. I've tried the Pluto-Ensemble and the Vox Luminis/Freiburger Barock recordings.
It’s always fascinating to me that tastes can be so similar, yet so different. What is it that draws us to particular works? I don’t know, but imagine that if everyone loved Biber’s F minor Requiem as I do, it would be performed much more frequently… and there would be an excellent recording. The Vox Luminis recording gets good reviews and I love the clarity of the performance, but the tempo sometimes seems leaden to my ears. Pluto Ensemble take the pace more quickly, but seem to lack energy?
And… I’ve never come across Biber’s Salzburg Mass, so huge thanks for that suggestion. Am much looking forward to hearing it!
Stravinsky’s Violin Concerto and Chamber Works, with Isabelle Faust, François-Xavier Roth and Les Siècles
... what an exquisite performance and recording it is!
I'm now catching up with this. The idea of a 1930s work on "historic instruments" is new to me, but doesn't the concerto sound great? And I love the Three Pieces for string quartet.
Again there are wonderful violin sounds on this (recently released) album in the cadenzas by Jörg Widmann. Well worth a listen (what Beethoven wrote as well!)
Beethoven: Violin Concerto - LSO Live: LSO5094 - SACD or download | Presto Music
Those cadenzas are truly magnificent - they’ve brought a huge smile to my face! 😊
(And what a great performance by all, including the recording engineers).
Presto’s new recording of the week is this intriguing programme:
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9416302--fantasie-seven-composers-seven-keyboards
Fabulous fantasias by seven composers from JS Bach to Schnittke (well maybe the Chopin Fantasia is not quite to my taste 😁) - with stunning performances by Alexander Melnikov on different keyboards, each carefully matched to the work.
There are so many treats here, but Presto’s review suggests the “star of the show” is the CPE Bach F sharp minor Fantasia played on a tangent piano. I agree! I’ve long loved this weird and wonderful fantasia, and on this instrument it sounds both delightful and sinister. “Shape shifting”, indeed.
